Burial apparatus.



PATENTED' OCT. 4, 1904.

J. H. BEATTIE.

BURIAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

Lid/nas- 560/66? /NVEN7'OR. I 4 2/1 6% A TTORNEX N Tan STATES Patented October 4, 1904.

FATENT Qrrics.

BUFHAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,452, dated Oetober4, 1904.

Applie tion filed June 13,1904. Serial No. 212,333. (No model.)

To all whom, it may cm. M17771.

Be it known that I, JAMns H. BEATTIE, a

citizen of the United States of America, resid-' ing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of lVashmgton, have lnvented certain new and useful Improvements in Burial Apparatus, of which the following is a specifica tion, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to devices to be placed over a grave to receive the casket and to lower it into the grave, and has for its objects, first, to provide a light, strong, and easily-removable apparatus; second, to provide a support ment for the cables to accommodate casketsof varying lengths.

I attain these objects by the devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a cross section thereof on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the adjustable arms. Fig. 4 is a section of a portion of one end of my apparatus, showing the means of supporting the slidable table; and Fig. 5 is an end view of a casket, showing the device for connecting it to the lowering-cables.

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

My apparatus is supported on four legs 1 at the four corners thereof, each leg being supplied with a suitable base plate 2 to keep it from cutting into the ground. The legs at each end are joined by the cross-bar 3, which maybe braced to the legs 1 by suitable brackets, as indicated at 4. At the same level as the cross-bars 3 I join the ends with the side bars 5. Thus the pairs of bars 3 and form the main frame of the apparatus.

To the inner sides of the bars 3 are secured the angle-irons 6, which have one flat side exposed upward, so as to form a support or track for the slidable-table frame. This table consists of the two end bars 7, the two side bars 8, and the cross -rollers 9, placed parallel to the bars 7 and rotatably secured to the bars 8. The end bars 7 rest on and are supported by the angle-irons 6. The level and size of the rollers 9 are such that they can pass over the side bars 5 of the main frame. The fixed rollers 10 are rotatably secured to the legs 1 at each end of the frame directly above the cross-bars 3 and at such alevel that its upper surface is level with the upper surfaces of the rollers 9 of the table. Thus the end of a casket placed on one of the rollers 10 can be easily pushed forward between the legs 1 by the remaining bearers thereof until it rests on the first of the rollers 9, and it is then pushed until entirely on the table and central thereon.

Above the side bars 5 are placed the bars 11 in such position on the legs 1 that the table, with its rollers 9, may pass freelybetween the bars 5 and 11. Extending upward from the centers of the bars 11 are the standards 12, which are braced to the legs 1 by the diagonal bars 13. The standards 12 support the main drum 14 of the windlass, which is operated by the handle 15 and may be held at any point by the ratchet and dog 16. The cables 17, supporting the casket, are attached to the drum 14: and extend out therefrom toward the ends of the apparatus and pass over the rollers 18 of the adjustable arms 19'and hang therefrom, having the hooks 20 at their ends.

The adjustable arms 19 are pivoted to the bars 11 and extend upward therefrom beside the diagoi'ial bars 13. The catelrplates 21 are secured to the sides of the bars 13, so that the arms 19 pass between the bars 13 and the plates 21, as shown in Fig. 3. The hooks 22 pivoted to the arms 19 are adapted to engage in holes 23 in the plates 21, so as to hold the arms 19 in any desired position. The rollers 18 are rotatably secured to the arms 19.

To the under side of the casket are secured two double gooseneck-hooks 24, having the hooks extending outward from each side of the casket, so as to be adapted to be engaged by the hooks 20, secured to the ends of the cables 17.

The lugs 25 are secured to the side bars 8 of the table and are adapted to keep the table from sliding out from the frame, except from one side thereof, and to act as hinges when it is slid out on that side.

My apparatus is operated in the following manner: It is first placed centrally over the grave, With its sides parallel therewith. Then the casket is slid on the roller1O and on the rollers 9. Then the cables 17 arelowered and the hooks 2O placed into connection with the hooks 24, secured to the bottom of the casket. Then the arms 19 are adjusted so that the rollers 18 thereof will cause the ends of the cables 17 to hang approximately vertically, the hooks 22 engaging the nearest hole 23 in the plate 21. Then the cables 17 are tightened and the casket slightly lifted by turning the drum 14, and the table is slid from under the casket, the lugs 25 thereon engaging the frame-bar 5, and the freed end dropping .to the ground, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Then the casket is lowered by turning the drum 14=-until it reaches the bottom of the grave. Then thc hooks 20 drop below the hOOkS'QfhOD the easket, and thus are free to be drawn up.

What I claim, and desire to secure'by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a burial apparatus, the combination of a frame consisting of legs and side and end bars secured thereto, of alowering deviceconsisting of a frame secured to saidlegs a drum with cables secured thereto and adjustable rollers adapted to separate said cables, and'a table slidably supported on said frame and adapted to temporarily support the casket and to be removed from thereunder.

2., In a burial apparatus, the combination of a frame carrying a drumand cables secured thereto, pivoted arms supportedbysaid frame to each side of said drum, and adjusting means consisting of a hook pivoted to said arms and a plate having holes therein and secured to said frame.

thereto, said cables having hooks on their ends, pivoted arms supported by said frame to each side of the drum, adjusting-means consisting of a hook pivoted to said armsand a plate havingholes therein-and securedto said frame, a table slidabl-y supported on said frame and adjusted to temporarily support :the casket and to 'be removed therefrom, and

downward. -1crooked hooks secured to said casket and adapted-to beengaged byatheihooks on said cables.

In testimony whereof I .affix my signature in presenceof two witnesses.

JAMES BEATTIE.

VVit-nesses:

O. W. *BARLOW, WILLIAM 'E. W I'NDSOR. 

